.I've replaced it with a collection of three Q & As that cannot be googled. It might work but . . .

However, even this type of measure doesn't seem to be working on other boards . . . (eg Seil Chat). I suspect some sort of security loophole has been discovered by the spammers and until phpBB sort it with a new release the choices are only to keep disapproving the posts and deleting the signups or to suspend new signups.

(If you google phpbb spam you will see lots of other reports of boards recently swamped)

I've just deleted 4 pages of spam signups going back to March last year - it only took me thirty seconds using the 'inactive users' acreen. Spam pPosts waiting for approval can similarly be delted en masse using the Moderator control panel rather than the ACP. I'm happy to keep on doing this until the problem is sorted by the geeks at phpBB.